Directed by Dave Boyle, House of Ninjas is a Japanese series co-produced by Netflix and TOHO Studios. Based on a story by Kento Kaku, Takafumi Imai and Yoshiaki Murao, the non-English speaking show reached the Streamer Top 10 in over 90 countries.
Set in present-day Japan, House of Ninjas centers on the centuries-old feud between the descendants of Hattori Hanzo and the followers of Fuma Kotaro. Just like the Hatfields and the McCoys, the story revolves around two bloodthirsty and legendary factions long at odds; Netflix’s House of Ninjas reimagines modern society and shows us what life would be like if these clans were still carrying out missions of espionage, sabotage and assassination.
In this action drama we meet the Tawara clan, the last “shinobi” (ninja) family directly descended from Hattori Hanzo. From the shadows, they are the ones who pull the strings of Japanese history without anyone noticing. Highly trained and lethally skilled, the Tawaras seem to straddle the line between magic and reality.
Six years ago, Gaku (Kengo Kora), the eldest son of the Tawara loses his life during a challenging mission to rescue a kidnapped politician. After the unexpected and tragic passing, the unusual family decides to completely abandon the deadly craft of their ancestors and, instead, choose to lead simple lives among ordinary people.
Since that fateful event, Soichi Tawara (Yosuke Eguchi), the father of Gaku, Haru, Nagi and Riku, runs an unstable sake brewery and insists that all his loved ones keep a low profile.
During the years of retirement and mourning, his wife Yoko Tawara (Tae Kimura) devotes herself to home and parenting; daughter Nagi (Aju Makita) attends college; and little Riku (Tenka Banya) remains innocent of the reality of the family business. Then, there is grandmother Taki (Nobuko Miyamoto), too agile, perceptive and mischievous for her age.
Although the Tawara clan manages to lead an ordinary civilian life, this does not mean that their days as “shinobi” are decisively over. Frequently (and in search of exhilarating thrills), they all succumb to some ninja habits, ranging from leaping between buildings and fading into the shadows, to doing surveillance and espionage work.
At the center of it all is Haru Tawara (Kento Kaku), the second son of Soichi and Yoko and the main character of the series. Haru is the most skilled fighter of all, but he is also a reluctant hero. He often cheats the strict shinobi code, especially when it comes to vegetarianism and arranged marriage. His is a story of redemption and the search for one’s own identity.
Now, chaos ensues after the appearance of the Gentenkai cult and the unforeseen resurgence of the Fuma clan. The issue is that Japan is facing an unprecedented national crisis and this involves an intense ninja war, in which many political interests are also involved.
As expected, the Tawara family has to come out of retirement after the reappearance of their old and lurid enemies, who have been recruiting followers as a religious cult.
When Soichi Tawara, Yoko, Haru, Nagi and Taki, inevitably return to do what they do best, they not only come to know the sinister and withering threat plotted by the Fuma clan. They also discover a delicate truth about their firstborn: Gaku is alive and, after all this time, he has become their bitterest enemy.
Near the end of the first installment of House of Ninjas, Haru, the reluctant hero, does his best to convince Gaku to come home with them. But, soon enough we realize that the gulf between the brothers is unbridgeable. Neither Haru can escape from himself, nor can Gaku. So the brothers fight each other tooth and nail, and since they are exceptionally talented ninjas, the confrontation is crushing and visceral.
In a way, the Tawara’s fight against the Fuma clan is the perfect family therapy to heal the wounds of the past and the ties that have cracked over time. However, in this story there are still serious problems for the descendants of Hattori Hanzo: Haru is unable to annihilate his opponents, and the Fuma clan’s army alarmingly outnumbers the Tawaras.
Themes and influences
In the best style of Cobra Kai and The Brothers Sun, House of Ninjas continues the streak of family martial arts series that Netflix has been developing over the last few years.
What makes House of Ninjas stand out is its balanced blend of traditional Japanese culture with contemporary themes. Shot entirely in Japan, the show includes just the right doses of family drama, ninja lore, political intrigue, religious fanaticism, chaste romance and comedy.
Over the course of eight episodes, this fiction explores what it means to be a ninja in today’s world, portraying the contrasts between the Tawara’s civilian, everyday lives and their secret identities as stealth warriors.
As well as exploring the intersection of tradition and modernity, secrecy and revelation, House of Ninjas also delves into themes of duty, imposed legacies, family ties, grief and the search for personal identity.
The fight scenes of a shinobi family
Directed and co-written by Dave Boyle, whose credits include acclaimed independent films such as Man from Reno (2014), Daylight Savings (2012) and Surrogate Valentine (2011), House of Ninjas is replete with shadowy operations, betrayals, plots, assassinations, blood, and all those things that come to mind when we hear the term “ninja”.
House of Ninjas showcases a wide range of weapons, skills, and fighting styles, captivating the audience with exciting combat scenes. Notably, each member of the Tawara family has a different relationship with their “shinobi” heritage and this is clearly reflected in their fighting styles and tactics.
Naturally, in this series we can expect all kinds of confrontations between the Fuma and the Tawara, from discreet fights to imaginative and brutal sword clashes. As with most stories about ninjas, the action sequences are spaced out and restrained at first, and then become more prominent and more intense.
It is only fair to acknowledge that both director Dave Boyle and action choreographer Keiya Tabuchi, as well as the cast members, do their best to give the fights the realism and authenticity they need.
In addition, another plus is that the women in the series are given enough screen time to stand out physically. Both male and female battles are shot with equal power and lethality, which is a welcome breath of fresh air.
Among many other things, the show stands out for its well-choreographed fight scenes and fast-paced, fluid action. Fans of ninja culture will be pleased to know that the Netflix series pays a heartfelt tribute to this enigmatic world.
Our verdict
Dust off your daggers and sharpen your shurikens: if you’re looking for your next action series to marathon, don’t hesitate to watch House of Ninjas.
Although this modern shinobi series stumbles in some elements, especially in the opening episodes and in the depth of its villains, House of Ninjas shines with its innovative storytelling, its portrayal of family relationships, and its juicy espionage and action scenes.
While a second season has not yet been confirmed, director Dave Boyle has said he has “a lot of plans” to continue the Tawara family’s journey. House of Ninjas is a must-see for fans of the genre and those people who love Japan’s ninja history.
All episodes of House of Ninjas are now available streaming on Netflix.